Upcoming book links parishioners' politics with their priests' views

Published: 2008-03-17

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A small study to be reported in an upcoming book on the political influence of parish priests found huge differences in the types of political messages being emphasized from one parish to another, which may come as no surprise to anyone. But whichever subjects their priests address, said author Gregory Smith, a fellow at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, people clearly are being influenced in their political thinking by what they hear from the pulpit and read in their parish bulletins. Smith spoke March 14 to a group of editors of U.S. and Canadian Catholic publications and staff members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at USCCB headquarters in Washington. For his upcoming book, "Politics in the Parish: The Political Influence of Catholic Priests," Smith conducted detailed case studies at nine parishes in adjacent dioceses in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, and analyzed data from the Notre Dame Study of Parish Life, which was conducted in the mid-1980s. The book, published by Georgetown University Press, is set for an April 15 release.

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .